Are discounts making you more likely to go to WDW?

I go to Disney World all too often, and discounts just sweeten the deal.

Our January trip was just about booked anyway, but the 7 for 4 and the $200 gift card just made things that much sweeter.

With the reports of bookings being seriously down at WDW, these discounts should have come as no surprise, but I was still pleased with the terms of this promotion.

I find the potential lack of crowds the most appealing part. I'm also not convinced my US dollars aren't going to turn into Cat Food. That being said I'm still a bit shaky to go spend on a vacation.

Hmmm...I was just about to post the exact thing...great minds think alike? Or maybe it's just cause we are going together!

Discounts never lure me into going to Disney when I don't have a trip planned, but maybe thats just because I always have a trip planned!

I'm usually the same way; this is the first time in a long time that I haven't had a trip planned. I should remedy that....

I would love some advice on this topic.

This 7 for the price 4 deal is really tempting me. I haven't been to WDW in a long time, and this is the best price I'm going to get any time soon, I'm sure. Under normal circumstances, I'd book it in a heartbeat.

But I've got a big financial obligation to save for (siding) before the end of the year, and my employer is talking about some layoffs--the odds are in my favor that I won't be one of them, but you never know. I wish we had longer than the end of January to book it, because I'm sure I won't know about my job situation before then. If I keep my job, then I know I can cover the cost of the siding plus the trip, but if I book the trip and then get laid off, I'd be in trouble. And if I don't book, and I keep my job, I'll be kicking myself later on for not booking when the same trip winds up costing me $500+ more later in the year.

So here's my thought: As I understand it, you don't have to pay the full cost of the trip until 45 days before the trip, right? So if I were planning on going in say, late April-early May, then I wouldn't actually have to pay for it until the second week of March.

What would you do? Would you go ahead and book it and then see which way the wind blows re the job and cancel if necessary before the 45 day deadline? Or just forego booking and hope that another great deal comes along later in the year?

I'm not sure how qualified I am to advise you, since I usually subscribe to a "you only live once" mentality.

But I thought I'd mention that per Disney's cancellation policy even if you book and pay a deposit, you do have a certain window in which your deposit is fully refundable. Not sure if this will help, because you seem to already know the policy, but here is the policy from Walt Disney World Travel Company's website:

[LI]Cancellation of Reservation - If the reservation is cancelled, amounts paid, minus cancellation fees and other amounts owed, will be refunded. For a cancellation made 44 to 6 days prior to guest arrival, there is a cancellation fee of $100 per package, plus any cancellation fees assessed by hotels or other suppliers. For a cancellation made 5 days or less prior to guest arrival, there is a cancellation fee of $200 per package, plus any cancellation fees assessed by hotels or other suppliers; provided, however, that for a cancellation of a Grand Gathering experience add-on option made 5 days or less prior to the experience date, no refund will be given.[/LI]

That's the problem with packages, they are much less flexible on cancellations than room only. Also, with an annual pass (which it's almost worth buying for 7 days), the "package" is worth even less. (Since the ticket wouldn't be worth anything).

Thank you, Imagineer! No, I did not know the cancellation policy for packages. I've always booked a room only--and I did have to cancel last time, as my cat got deathly ill before my trip and I couldn't leave her. I'm thinking for $100-200, it might be worth the risk...

I think hurricanes are the closest we've ever come to having to cancel.

Had to update this thread -- I know I've said it before, but the extended 4/3 deal might just be too much to bear. And I'd love to head to the world in January. I just love it during that time of year...